Project description:Macaque species share over 93% genome homology with humans and develop many disease phenotypes similar to those of humans, making them valuable animal models for the study of human diseases (e.g.,HIV and neurodegenerative diseases). However, the quality of genome assembly and annotation for several macaque species lags behind the human genome effort. To close this gap and enhance functional genomics approaches, we employed a combination of de novo linked-read assembly and scaffolding using proximity ligation assay (HiC) to assemble the pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) genome. This combinatorial method yielded large scaffolds at chromosome-level with a scaffold N50 of 127.5 Mb; the 23 largest scaffolds covered 90% of the entire genome. This assembly revealed large-scale rearrangements between pig-tailed macaque chromosomes 7, 12, and 13 and human chromosomes 2, 14, and 15. We subsequently annotated the genome using transcriptome and proteomics data from personalized induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from the same animal. Reconstruction of the evolutionary tree using whole genome annotation and orthologous comparisons among three macaque species, human and mouse genomes revealed extensive homology between human and pig-tailed macaques with regards to both pluripotent stem cell genes and innate immune gene pathways. Our results confirm that rhesus and cynomolgus macaques exhibit a closer evolutionary distance to each other than either species exhibits to humans or pig-tailed macaques. These findings demonstrate that pig-tailed macaques can serve as an excellent animal model for the study of many human diseases particularly with regards to pluripotency and innate immune pathways.
Project description:Macaca fascicularis (long-tailed, cynomolgus, or crab-eating macaque) is a highly advantageous model in which to study human cochlea with regard to both evolutionary proximity and physiological similarity of the auditory system. To better understand the properties of primate cochlear function, we analyzed the genes predominantly expressed in M. fascicularis cochlea.
Project description:Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) was used to profile the transcriptome of 7,631 nuclei in macaque adult testis. This dataset includes two samples from two different individuals. This dataset is part of a larger evolutionary study of adult testis at the single-nucleus level (97,521 single-nuclei in total) across mammals including 10 representatives of the three main mammalian lineages: human, chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, gibbon, rhesus macaque, marmoset, mouse (placental mammals); grey short-tailed opossum (marsupials); and platypus (egg-laying monotremes). Corresponding data were generated for a bird (red junglefowl, the progenitor of domestic chicken), to be used as an evolutionary outgroup.
Project description:Formalin induces inter- and intra-molecular crosslinks within exposed cells. This cross-linking can be exploited to characterise chromatin state as in the FAIRE (Formaldehyde-Assisted Isolation of Regulatory Elements) and MNase (micrococcal nuclease) assays. Here, we optimised the FAIRE and MNase assays for application upon heavily-fixed tissues as is typically found in historical formalin-preserved museum specimens. We demonstrate these assays in formalin-fixed mouse specimens and compare the chromatin signatures to specimen-matched fresh tissues. We found that heavy formalin fixation modulates rather than eliminates signatures of differential chromatin accessibility and that these chromatin profiles are reproducible, tissue-specific and sex-specific in vertebrate specimens.
Project description:Ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) and matched RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data for three major mammalian organs (brain (cerebrum), liver, and testis) from five representatives of the three main mammalian lineages: human, rhesus macaque, mouse (placental mammals); grey short-tailed opossum (marsupials); and platypus (egg-laying monotremes). Corresponding data were generated for a bird (red junglefowl, the progenitor of domestic chicken; henceforth referred to as “chicken”), to be used as an evolutionary outgroup.
Project description:One tooth of a lamprey and one piece of trunc skin was lysed and analysed for its protein content. The samples were generously provided by the Museum of Natural History Vienna. The samples were stored in ethanol and the origin of the specimen is not known.
2024-05-21 | PXD048873 | Pride
Project description:Xerces blue butterfly: de novo sequencing of a museum specimen
| PRJNA705167 | ENA
Project description:DNA Shotgun sequencing of historical Citrus specimen
Project description:Our earlier studies in pig-tailed macaques demonstrated varying SHIV susceptibility during the menstrual cycle, likely caused by cyclic variations in immune responses in the female genital tract. There is concern that high-dose, long-lasting, injectable progestin-based contraception could mimic the luteal phase and predispose women to HIV-1 acquisition and transmission. In this study, we adopted a systems biology approach employing proteomics (tandem mass spectrometry), transcriptomics (RNA microarray hybridization), and other specific protein assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and multiplex chemokine-cytokine measurements) to characterize the effects of hormonal changes on the expression of innate factors and secreted proteins in the macaque vagina. Several antiviral factors and pathways (including acute phase response signaling and complement system) were overexpressed in the follicular phase. Conversely, during the luteal phase there were factors overexpressed (including moesins, syndecans, integrins, among others) that could play direct or indirect roles in enhancing HIV-1 infection. Thus, our study showed that specific pathways and proteins/genes might be working in tandem to regulate innate immunity, thus fostering further investigation and future design of approaches to help counter HIV-1 acquisition in the female genital tract. Samples were hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip® Rhesus Macaque Genome Arrays. Vaginal pinch biopsies were collected from 12 pig-tailed macaques at both the follicular and luteal phases. The data from one animal suggested low RNA quality and was excluded.